Automatically Filling A Geometric Shape With Graphical Cells Aligned With The Geometric Shape

ABSTRACT

A fill pattern alignment system fills a geometric shape with a graphical cell in accordance with a pattern and aligned with the contours of the geometric shape. The intrinsic shape of the geometric shape being filled is determined and an orientation for the graphical cell at each location in the pattern is determined based on the intrinsic shape of the geometric shape. Accordingly, the orientation for each graphical cell being used to fill the geometric shape is variable based on the location of the graphical cell and the intrinsic shape of the geometric shape.

BACKGROUND

As computer technology has advanced computers have become increasinglycommonplace in our lives and have found a wide variety of differentuses. One such use is creating digital content, where users generate andedit digital content such as images in a variety of different manners.This digital content is useable in various different scenarios, such asscreen design, apparel design, packaging, and so forth.

One feature frequently found in digital content creation is patterns.Patterns refer to repeated occurrences of cells that include any of avariety of shapes, images, colors, and so forth. While providing supportfor these patterns and the resulting grid-like arrangement of the cellsis useful, it is not without its problems. One such problem is thatcontrol of these patterns is typically limited. For example, usersoftentimes are able to select the content in the cells as well as thehorizontal and vertical spacing between the cells. However, conventionaldigital content creation solutions typically give users little or noother control over the manner in which these patterns are applied,oftentimes frustrating users and leaving them dissatisfied with theircomputers and applications.

SUMMARY

To mitigate the drawings of digital content creation solutions, a fillpattern alignment system as implemented by a computing device isdescribed to provide automatically filling a geometric shape withgraphical cells aligned with the geometric shape. A geometric shape indigital content is identified and a graphical cell with which to fillthe geometric shape in accordance with a pattern is received. A medialaxis of the geometric shape is determined, the medial axis including aset of points in the geometric shape that have more than one closestpoint on a boundary of the geometric shape. For each of multiplelocations of the geometric shape where the graphical cell is to beplaced in accordance with the pattern, based at least in part on themedial axis, an orientation for the graphical cell at the location thataligns the graphical cell with the medial axis is determined, and at thelocation the graphical cell with the determined orientation isdisplayed.

This Summary introduces a selection of concepts in a simplified formthat are further described below in the Detailed Description. As such,this Summary is not intended to identify essential features of theclaimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid indetermining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanyingfigures. Entities represented in the figures are indicative of one ormore entities and thus reference is made interchangeably to single orplural forms of the entities in the discussion.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a digital medium environment in an exampleimplementation that is operable to employ the automatically filling ageometric shape with graphical cells aligned with the geometric shapedescribed herein.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an example architecture of a fill patternalignment system.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a geometric shape and medial axis.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a geometric shape and medial axis.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a geometric shape.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a triangular mesh including generatedfor a geometric shape having a boundary.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a uniform vector field generated from asmooth directional vector field.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of rotating a graphical cell.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of generating a filled geometric shape.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example user interface for receiving user inputassociated with the techniques discussed herein.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram depicting a procedure in an exampleimplementation of automatically filling a geometric shape with graphicalcells aligned with the geometric shape.

FIG. 12 is another flow diagram depicting a procedure in an exampleimplementation of automatically filling a geometric shape with graphicalcells aligned with the geometric shape.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example system including various components of anexample device that is implemented as any type of computing device asdescribed and/or utilized with reference to FIGS. 1-12 to implementaspects of the techniques described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

Current solutions for filling geometric shapes with patterns providelimited control over these patterns. For example, current solutionsallow users to select the content in the cells used in a pattern as wellas select the horizontal and vertical spacing between the cells used ina pattern. Conventional solutions for filling geometric shapes withpatterns typically give users little or no other control over the mannerin which these patterns are applied.

To overcome these problems, techniques for automatically filling ageometric shape with graphical cells aligned with the geometric shapeare discussed herein. Generally, the techniques discussed herein fill ageometric shape with a graphical cell in accordance with a pattern andaligned with the contours of the geometric shape. The intrinsic shape ofthe geometric shape being filled is determined and an orientation forthe graphical cell at each location in the pattern is determined basedon the intrinsic shape. Accordingly, the orientation for each graphicalcell being used to fill the geometric shape is variable based on thelocation of the graphical cell and the intrinsic shape of the geometricshape.

More specifically, a medial axis (also referred to as a skeleton orstraight-edge skeleton) is generated for a geometric shape. The medialaxis of the geometric shape is a set of points (e.g., all points) in thegeometric shape that have more than one closest point on the boundary ofthe geometric shape. The medial axis identifies the intrinsic shape ofthe geometric shape.

Salient boundary segments are also generated for the geometric shape.The salient boundary segments for the geometric shape refer to segmentsor portions of the boundary of the geometric shape that are aligned withthe medial axis. Segments of the boundary of the geometric shape thatare aligned with the corresponding segment of the medial axis areidentified by comparing a boundary tangential line to a medial axistangential line. The boundary tangential line is a line that istangential to, and in the same direction as, a segment of the boundary.The medial axis tangential line is a line that is tangential to, and inthe same direction as, the segment of the medial axis. In one or moreimplementations, if the angle between a boundary tangential line and acorresponding medial axis tangential line is within a threshold range(e.g., less than a threshold amount, such as 45 degrees), then thesegment of the boundary of the geometric shape is aligned, with the sameorientation, with the corresponding segment of the medial axis. If theangle between a boundary tangential line and a corresponding medial axistangential line is between 135 degrees and 225 degrees, the segment ofthe boundary of the geometric shape is aligned, with reverseorientation, with the corresponding segment of the medial axis.

A mesh (e.g., a triangular mesh) is generated based on the salientboundary segments. In one or more implementations, a bounding box thatincludes the geometric shape is identified and a mesh for the boundingbox is generated. Points along the geometric shape (e.g., points alongthe salient boundary segments) are sampled and included as vertexes ingenerating the mesh (e.g., adds the sampled points as Steiner pointsbefore generating the mesh). In one or more implementations, a beginninglocation on the geometric shape is selected (e.g., a point that is thetop-most and/or left-most on the geometric shape) and included as asampled point. The geometric shape is traversed point by point (e.g.,pixel by pixel) from the beginning location and each additional point isanalyzed relative to the previously sampled point. If one or moreconditions are satisfied (e.g., the number of points between the currentpoint and the previously sampled point exceeds a threshold number (e.g.,10), the difference between the angle of the tangent to the geometricshape at the current point and the angle of the tangent to the geometricshape at the previously sampled point exceeds a threshold amount (e.g.,3 degrees)) then the current location is included as a sampled point.Otherwise the current location is not included as a sampled point. Byincluding points along the geometric shape as vertexes in generating themesh, the boundary of the geometric shape is accounted for when furtheranalyzing the mesh.

Boundary conditions used in generating a smooth directional vector fieldare determined. Direction vectors corresponding to the vertices of themesh that are located on the salient boundary segments are determined.The direction vector corresponding to a vertex of the mesh that islocated on the salient boundary segments is a vector identifying thedirection of the boundary tangential line at that vertex (the directionof a line that is tangential to, and in the same direction as, thesegment of the boundary that includes the vertex). The direction vectorscorresponding to the vertices are represented in various manners, e.g.,as two dimensional vectors [sin θ, cos θ].

Analogous to the discussion above, if the angle between a boundarytangential line at a vertex and a corresponding medial axis tangentialline is between 135 degrees and 225 degrees, the segment of the boundaryof the geometric shape is aligned, with reverse orientation, with thecorresponding segment of the medial axis. In such situations thedirection of the boundary tangential line is reversed, resulting in theboundary tangential line being aligned with the same orientation as thecorresponding medial axis tangential line resulting in the angle betweenthe reversed boundary tangential line and the corresponding medial axistangential line being within a threshold range (e.g., less than athreshold amount, such as 45 degrees).

The smooth directional vector field is generated from the boundaryconditions and the mesh. The smooth directional vector field beingsmooth refers to the direction vectors in the smooth directional vectorfield being similar in direction (e.g., less than a threshold number ofdegrees different, such as 5 degrees) as adjacent direction vectors inthe smooth directional vector field. In one or more implementations thesmooth directional vector field is generated across the entire mesh.Additionally or alternatively, the smooth directional vector field isgenerated for only portion of the mesh (e.g., portions of the mesh inthe interior of the geometric shape, including portions of the mesh onthe boundary of the geometric shape).

For each vertex on a salient boundary segment, the direction vector forthe vertex is the boundary tangential line at the vertex (or theboundary tangential line with reverse orientation if the angle between aboundary tangential line at a vertex and a corresponding medial axistangential line is between 135 degrees and 225 degrees as discussedabove). These direction vectors (e.g., each represented as a twodimensional vector [sin θ, cos θ]) are added to the smooth directionalvector field.

For each vertex in the mesh that is not on a salient boundary segment,the direction vectors for the vertices are aligned based on the boundaryconditions. In one or more implementations, the direction vectors arealigned for these vertices to be within a range defined by the boundaryconditions, restricting each directional vector in the smoothdirectional vector field to being within the range defined by theboundary conditions. The angle of each direction vector for a vertexthat is on the salient boundary segment is determined relative to areference vector (e.g., the x-axis or the y-axis). The range defined bythe boundary conditions is between (inclusive) a direction vector havingthe smallest angle relative to the reference vector and a directionvector having the largest angle relative to the reference vector.

For each vertex in the mesh that is not on a salient boundary segment,the vector field generation module determines a direction vector (e.g.,represented as a two dimensional vector [sin θ, cos θ]) by solving forthe two variables indicating direction (e.g., [sin θ, cos θ]). In one ormore implementations, the two variables are solved for using abiharmonic solve with the boundary conditions. As an example, thebi-Laplacian equation is used and the Laplacian energy is minimizedsubject to the boundary conditions, which are a set of linearconstraints. Minimizing the Laplacian energy solves for two weights (thetwo elements of the two dimensional direction vector).

For each triangle in the mesh, the direction vector for each vertex ofthe triangle is determined. A triangle is sub-divided into two or oretriangles based on whether the direction vectors at each vertex of thetriangle are in approximately the same direction (e.g., within athreshold amount of being in the same direction, such as within 5degrees of one another). If the direction vectors at each vertex of thetriangle are in approximately the same direction, then no sub-dividingof the triangle need be performed. However, if the direction vectors ateach vertex of the triangle are not in approximately the same direction,the triangle is sub-divided into two or more triangles. Thissub-division of a triangle is performed using any of a variety of publicor proprietary techniques. The triangle in the mesh is replaced with thetwo or more triangles resulting from the sub-dividing, and for eachtriangle generated from the sub-dividing the direction vector for eachvertex of the triangle is determined. This process of sub-dividingtriangles is repeated until each triangle in the mesh has its verticesin approximately the same direction.

Triangles in the mesh typically share vertices with at least one othertriangle (although exceptions are possible, such as at the corners ofthe mesh). For a given vertex, a direction vector is generated based onthe direction vectors for the vertex as generated for each of thetriangles that share the vertex. The direction vector for the sharedvertex is determined in any of a variety of different manners. In one ormore implementations, one of the direction vectors generated for one ofthe triangles that share the vertex is selected (e.g., selectedrandomly, the direction vector closest to the average of the directionvectors generated for the triangles that share the vertex is selected,etc.). Additionally or alternatively, the direction vectors generatedfor the triangles that share the vertex are combined (e.g., averaged)and that combine value is used as the direction vector for the vertex.

The smooth directional vector field is used to calculate the vectorfield over a uniform domain, the resultant vector field also beingreferred to as a uniform vector field. The uniform vector field hasconsistent or regular distances between different ones of the directionvectors in the uniform vector field, in contrast to the non-uniformsmooth directional vector field. Patterns are inherently uniform andregular, so generating the uniform vector field allows the pattern inwhich the graphical cells are placed to be readily mapped to directionalvectors in the uniform vector field.

The smooth directional vector field is to the uniform vector field bysuperimposing a regular and uniform structure over the smoothdirectional vector field. The directional vectors are transferred fromthe vertexes of the smooth directional vector field to the vertexes ofthe regular and uniform structure. The regular and uniform structure ismade up of any of a variety of primitives, which are geometric shapes,such as squares, hexagons, octagons, and so forth. In one or moreimplementations, the primitives in the structure are adjacent oneanother. Additionally or alternatively, primitives in the structure arespaced out from one another (e.g., with one or more pixels separationbetween each primitive and the next closest primitive(s)).

A triangle in the uniform vector field (e.g., a triangle index)corresponding to each vertex of a primitive in the regular and uniformstructure is identified. The triangles are identified in variousmanners, such as using an accelerated bounded volume hierarchystructure. The triangle that corresponds to a vertex of a primitive inthe structure is a triangle that includes (e.g., on an edge, vertex, orwithin the triangle) the vertex of the primitive. In situations in whichmultiple triangles correspond to a vertex of a primitive, various rulesor criteria are applied to determine which triangle corresponds to thevertex (e.g., the triangle that corresponds to the vertex is selectedrandomly or pseudorandomly).

A directional vector for each vertex of each primitive in the regularand uniform structure (or at least vertexes in the geometric shape) isdetermined. In one or more implementations, a directional vector for thevertex of a primitive is generated by combining the directional vectorsof the triangle corresponding to the vertex of the primitive. Thiscombining is performed, for example, by computing the local Barycentriccoordinates of the position of the vertex of the primitive in thetriangle and generating a directional vector for the vertex of theprimitive by interpolating the directional vectors of the vertexes ofthe triangle that corresponds to the vertex of the primitive.Additionally or alternatively, the directional vector for the vertex ofthe primitive is generated in other manners, such as averaging thevertexes of the triangle that corresponds to the vertex of theprimitive, selecting one of the vertexes of the triangle thatcorresponds to the vertex of the primitive, and so forth.

A graphical cell is placed in each location specified by the pattern.For example, the pattern corresponds to the structure used to generatethe uniform vector field, and the graphical cell placement module placesthe graphical cell in each primitive of the structure that is locatedinside the geometric shape. A rotational value corresponding to eachprimitive that is located inside the geometric shape is automaticallydetermined based on the directional vectors (from the uniform vectorfield) of the vertices of the primitive. In one or more implementations,the rotational value for a primitive is determined by combining (e.g.,averaging) the directional vectors of the vertices of the primitive.

For each graphical cell placed in a primitive, an orientation for thegraphical cell is determined so that the graphical cell is oriented inthe same direction as the rotational value corresponding to theprimitive. For example, if the rotational value is 25 degrees from thex-axis for a given primitive, the graphical cell 236 in that primitiveis rotated 25 degrees from the x-axis. Accordingly, the orientations forthe graphical cell in different primitives vary based on the rotationalvalue corresponding to the primitive.

The techniques discussed herein are discussed with reference tographical cells being placed in primitives as an example, butadditionally or alternatively the techniques discussed herein areapplied analogously to filling the geometric shape with other content(e.g., calligrams or microcalligraphy) or assigning values to pixels inthe geometric shape (e.g., color flow). In such situations, the contentor data placed in (or used to fill) a primitive oftentimes changes fordifferent primitives in contrast to placing the same graphical cell(although with different rotations) in each primitive. As an example,text (e.g., a poem, story, song lyrics, etc.) is placed in theprimitives of a shape with the characters (e.g., words) in eachprimitive rotated analogous to the rotation of a graphical cell asdiscussed herein. By way of another example, the rotational values aremapped to color values (e.g., ranging between a beginning color and anending color) and the color of pixels in a particular primitive are setto the color value mapped to the rotational value corresponding to thatprimitive.

The techniques discussed herein allow a geometric shape to be filledwith graphical cells in accordance with a pattern and furtherautomatically rotate the various graphical cells to an orientationaligned with the intrinsic shape of the geometric shape. By aligning thegraphical cells with the medial axis of the geometric shape or thesalient boundary segments of the geometric shape, the graphical cellsare aligned with the intrinsic shape of the geometric shape.

Term Descriptions

These term descriptions are provided for purposes of example only andare not intended to be construed as limiting on the scope of the claims.

The term “medial axis” of a geometric shape refers to a set of points(e.g., all points) in the geometric shape that have more than oneclosest point on the boundary of the geometric shape.

The term “salient boundary segment” refers to segments or portions ofthe boundary of a geometric shape that are aligned with the medial axisof the geometric shape. For example, segments of the boundary of thegeometric shape having an angle between the segment and thecorresponding portion of the medial axis that is less than a thresholdnumber of degrees (with the same or reverse orientations).

The term “graphical cell” refers to a set of one or more pixel values(e.g., a bitmap, vector graphic, single color, or gradient) that is tobe replicated at various horizontal and vertical intervals in accordancewith a pattern.

The term “pattern” refers to repeated occurrences of graphical cells atvarious horizontal and vertical intervals. The pattern includes multipleprimitives (e.g., rectangles, hexagons, or other polygons) arranged invarious manners (e.g., grid or staggered) with zero or more pixelsvertically and horizontally between primitives.

In the following discussion, an example environment is first describedthat employs examples of techniques described herein. Example proceduresare also described which are performable in the example environment aswell as other environments. Consequently, performance of the exampleprocedures is not limited to the example environment and the exampleenvironment is not limited to performance of the example procedures.

Example Environment

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a digital medium environment 100 in anexample implementation that is operable to employ the automaticallyfilling a geometric shape with graphical cells aligned with thegeometric shape described herein. The illustrated environment 100includes a computing device 102, implemented in any of a variety ofways. Examples of the computing device 102 include a mobile device(e.g., assuming a handheld configuration such as a tablet or mobilephone), a wearable device (e.g., augmented reality or virtual realityheadsets, smartwatches), a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a gameconsole, an automotive computer, and so forth. Thus, implementations ofthe computing device 102 range from full resource devices withsubstantial memory and processor resources (e.g., personal computers,game consoles) to a low-resource device with limited memory and/orprocessing resources (e.g., mobile devices). Additionally, although asingle computing device 102 is shown, additionally or alternatively thecomputing device is representative of a plurality of different devices,such as multiple servers utilized by a business to perform operations“over the cloud” as described in FIG. 13 .

The computing device 102 is illustrated as including an application 104that includes a fill pattern alignment system 106. The application 104processes and transforms digital content 108, which is illustrated asmaintained in storage 110 of the computing device 102. Such processingincludes creation of the digital content 108 and rendering of thedigital content 108 in a user interface 112 for output, e.g., by adisplay device 114. An example 116 of the digital content 108 isdisplayed in the user interface 112. Although illustrated as beingdisplayed, additionally or alternatively the UI is presented in othermanners (e.g., audibly, haptically). The storage 110 is any of a varietyof different types of storage, such as random access memory (RAM), Flashmemory, solid state drive, magnetic disk drive, and so forth. Althoughillustrated as implemented locally at the computing device 102,additionally or alternatively functionality of the application 104,including the fill pattern alignment system 106, is implemented in wholeor part via functionality available via a network 118, such as part of aweb service or “in the cloud.”

The computing device 102 also includes an operating system 120 thatimplements functionality to manage execution of application 104 as wellas other applications on the computing device 102, to operate as aninterface between the application 104 and hardware of the computingdevice 102, and so forth. Although the fill pattern alignment system 106is illustrated as being included in the application 104, additionally oralternatively the fill pattern alignment system 106 is included in theoperating system 120.

The fill pattern alignment system 106 implements functionality to fill ageometric shape in digital content with a graphical cell in accordancewith a pattern and aligned with the contours of the geometric shape. Asillustrated in the example 116 of the digital content 108, the geometricshape 122 is that of a fish and the geometric shape 122 is filled, inaccordance with a grid fill pattern, with replications of a graphicalcell 124 that is a teardrop shape. The orientation of each graphicalcell is aligned with the contours of the geometric shape (e.g., thecontour of the fish's body), resulting in different ones of thegraphical cells having different orientations based on the location ofthe graphical cell in the geometric shape.

Although a single application 104 is illustrated in FIG. 1 , any numberof applications are includable in the computing device 102. Anyadditional applications included in the computing device 102 optionallyinclude a fill pattern alignment system 106 to manage resource usage bythat application.

In general, functionality, features, and concepts described in relationto the examples above and below are employable in the context of theexample systems and procedures described herein. Further, functionality,features, and concepts described in relation to different figures andexamples in this document are interchangeable among one another and arenot limited to implementation in the context of a particular figure orprocedure. Moreover, blocks associated with different representativeprocedures and corresponding figures herein are applicable togetherand/or combined in different ways. Thus, individual functionality,features, and concepts described in relation to different exampleenvironments, devices, components, figures, and procedures herein areusable in any suitable combinations and are not limited to theparticular combinations represented by the enumerated examples in thisdescription.

Fill Pattern Alignment System Architecture

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an example architecture of a fill patternalignment system 106. Generally, the fill pattern alignment system 106implements functionality to fill a geometric shape in digital contentwith a graphical cell in accordance with a pattern and aligned with thecontours of the geometric shape. In one or more implementations, thefill pattern alignment system 106 includes a medial axis generationmodule 202, a salient boundary segment identification module 204, a meshgeneration module 206, a boundary condition generation module 208, avector field generation module 210, a uniform field embedding uniformfield embedding module 212, and a graphical cell placement module 214.

The medial axis generation module 202 implements functionality toreceive a geometric shape 220 and generate a medial axis 222 (alsoreferred to as a skeleton or straight-edge skeleton) for the geometricshape 220. The medial axis 222 of the geometric shape 220 is a set ofpoints (e.g., all points) in the geometric shape 220 that have more thanone closest point on the boundary of the geometric shape 220. The medialaxis 222 identifies the intrinsic shape of the geometric shape 220. Themedial axis 222 for the geometric shape 220 is identified using any of avariety of public or proprietary techniques. In one or moreimplementations, the medial axis 222 is generated by contracting theboundary of the geometric shape 220 inwards. One technique forgenerating the medial axis 222 is discussed in “Medial axistransformation of a planar shape,” by D. Lee, IEEE Transactions onPattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, 4:363-9 (1982).

FIG. 3 illustrates an example 300 of a geometric shape and medial axis.The example 300 illustrates a geometric shape 302 in the shape of a fishand having a medial axis 304.

Returning to FIG. 2 , situations arise in which the medial axis includesmultiple branches. In such situations, the medial axis generation module202 selects as the medial axis a longest path in the medial axis. Any ofa variety of public or proprietary techniques are used to determine thelongest path in the medial axis.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example 400 of a geometric shape and medial axis.The example 400 illustrates a geometric shape 402 in the shape of a fishand having a medial axis that includes two branches 404 and 406. Themedial axis generation module 202 selects the longer of the two branches(branch 406 in the illustrated example) and the combination of theinitial portion 408 and the branch 406 to use as the medial axis 222(e.g., illustrated as medial axis 304 of FIG. 3 ).

Returning to FIG. 2 , the salient boundary segment identification module204 implements functionality to generate salient boundary segments 224for the geometric shape 220. The salient boundary segments for thegeometric shape 220 refer to segments or portions of the boundary of thegeometric shape 220 that are aligned with the medial axis 222. Themedial axis includes multiple segments (portions of the medial axis).These segments, as well as the boundary segments on the geometric shape220 that correspond to the segments of the medial axis, are determinedby the medial axis generation module 202 as part of determining themedial axis.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example 500 of a geometric shape 502. Thegeometric shape 502 includes a boundary 504, which is a set of one ormore lines that define the exterior of the geometric shape 502. A medialaxis 506 of the geometric shape 502 is also illustrated. The geometricshape 502 is illustrated as including multiple lines extending from themedial axis 506 to the boundary 504. Each such line intersects themedial axis 506 at a beginning or ending of a segment of the medial axis506 and extends to a beginning or ending of a corresponding segment ofthe boundary 504.

Corresponding segments of the medial axis 506 and the boundary 504 areillustrated at 510. A segment 512 on the boundary 504 is illustratedbetween the intersection of line 514 with the boundary 504 and theintersection of line 516 with the boundary 504. Similarly, a segment 518on the medial axis 506 is illustrated between the intersection of theline 514 with the medial axis 506 and the intersection of the line 516with the medial axis 506.

In one or more implementations, the geometric shape 502 is defined usingvector graphics and has an associated direction. This associateddirection is, for example, from a beginning location where a first lineor curve of the geometric shape 502 is defined, following through one ormore additional lines or curves of the geometric shape 502, and endingwith a line or curve that terminates at the beginning location. Forexample, the geometric shape 502 is definable using a first curvebeginning at location 520 and ending at location 522, a second curvebeginning at location 522 and ending at location 524, and a third curvebeginning at location 524 and ending at location 520 (the boundary ofthe geometric shape 502 is these three curves). The direction associatedwith the geometric shape 502 would thus be in the clockwise directionaround the boundary 504.

The medial axis 506 also has an associated direction. The direction ofthe medial axis 506 is determined in various manners, for example by themedial axis generation module 202 as part of determining the medial axis506. Another example of the manner in which the direction of the medialaxis 506 is determined is according to various rules or criteria, suchas a preference for particular directions (e.g., top to bottom and leftto right).

The salient boundary segment identification module 204 identifiessegments of the boundary of the geometric shape that are aligned withthe corresponding segment of the medial axis by comparing a boundarytangential line to a medial axis tangential line. The boundarytangential line is a line that is tangential to, and in the samedirection as, a segment of the boundary. The medial axis tangential lineis a line that is tangential to, and in the same direction as, thesegment of the medial axis. In one or more implementations, if the anglebetween a boundary tangential line and a corresponding medial axistangential line is within a threshold range (e.g., less than a thresholdamount, such as 45 degrees), then the segment of the boundary of thegeometric shape is aligned, with the same orientation, with thecorresponding segment of the medial axis. In the example 500, for thesegment 512 and corresponding segment 518, the salient boundary segmentidentification module 204 identifies a line 526 that is tangential tothe segment 512 and a line 528 that is tangential to the segment 518.The salient boundary segment identification module 204 determineswhether the angle between the line 526 and the line 528 is less than thethreshold amount. In the illustrated example, the angle between the line526 and the line 528 is approximately 6 degrees and salient boundarysegment identification module 204 determines that the segment 512 isaligned, with the same orientation, with the segment 518.

Additionally, if the angle between a boundary tangential line and acorresponding medial axis tangential line is between 135 degrees and 225degrees, the segment of the boundary of the geometric shape is aligned,with reverse orientation, with the corresponding segment of the medialaxis. In such situations the salient boundary segment identificationmodule 204 reverses the direction of the boundary tangential line,resulting in the angle between the reversed boundary tangential line andthe corresponding medial axis tangential line being within a thresholdrange (e.g., less than a threshold amount, such as 45 degrees).Accordingly, the reversed boundary tangential line and the correspondingmedial axis tangential line are aligned with the same orientation.

Returning to FIG. 2 , the fill pattern alignment system 106 computes asmooth directional vector field 226 in the geometric shape 220. Thisdirectional vector field is generated by the mesh generation module 206,the boundary condition generation module 208, and the vector fieldgeneration module 210 as discussed in more detail below.

The mesh generation module 206 implements functionality to generate amesh 228 (e.g., a triangular mesh) based on the salient boundarysegments 224. In one or more implementations, the mesh generation module206 identifies a bounding box that includes the geometric shape 220 andgenerates the mesh 228 for the bounding box. The bounding box is, forexample, a rectangle (e.g., a smallest rectangle) that includes all thepoints of the geometric shape 220. Although a triangular mesh isdiscussed herein, additionally or alternatively various other meshes(e.g., a quadrilateral mesh) is used.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example 602 of a triangular mesh includinggenerated for a geometric shape having the boundary 504 of FIG. 5 .Although illustrated as including triangles within the bounding box ofthe boundary 504 and internal to our external to the boundary 504,additionally or alternatively the triangular mesh includes onlytriangles internal to the boundary 504.

Returning to FIG. 2 , the mesh generation module 206 generates the mesh228 using any of a variety of different public or proprietary meshgeneration techniques. One example of such a mesh generation techniqueis constrained Delaunay triangulation (CDT), which is described inadditional detail in “Triangle: Engineering a 2D Quality Mesh Generatorand Delaunay Tri-angulator” by Jonathan Richard Shewchuk, In Ming C. Linand Dinesh Manocha, editors, Applied Computational Geometry: TowardsGeometric Engineering, volume 1148 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science,pages 203-222, Springer-Verlag, May 1996, from the First ACM Workshop onApplied Computational Geometry, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety. In one or more implementations,quality of the mesh is maintained by constraining triangles in the meshto having no small angles (e.g., the minimum angle in the CDT isconstrained to 15 degrees).

The mesh generation module 206 samples points along the geometric shape220 (e.g., points along the salient boundary segments 224) and includesthose points as vertexes in generating the mesh (e.g., adds the sampledpoints as Steiner points before generating the mesh). The meshgeneration module 206 samples these points in accordance with any of avariety of rules or condition. In one or more implementations, abeginning location on the geometric shape 220 is selected (e.g., a pointthat is the top-most and/or left-most on the geometric shape 220) andincluded as a sampled point. The geometric shape 220 is traversed pointby point (e.g., pixel by pixel) from the beginning location and eachadditional point is analyzed relative to the previously sampled point.If one or more conditions are satisfied (e.g., the number of pointsbetween the current point and the previously sampled point exceeds athreshold number (e.g., 10), the difference between the angle of thetangent to the geometric shape 220 at the current point and the angle ofthe tangent to the geometric shape at the previously sampled pointexceeds a threshold amount (e.g., 3 degrees)) then the current locationis included as a sampled point. Otherwise the current location is notincluded as a sampled point. These threshold numbers or amountsoptionally vary along the geometric shape 220 based on whether thecurrent location (or the previously sampled point) is included in asalient boundary segment 224 (e.g., the threshold number or thethreshold amount is greater (e.g., double or triple) along portions ofthe geometric shape 220 that are not salient boundary segments 224 thanalong portions of the geometric shape 220 that are salient boundarysegments 224). By including points along the geometric shape 220 asvertexes in generating the mesh, the vector field generation module 210is able to account for the boundary of the geometric shape 220 whenfurther analyzing the mesh as discussed in more detail below.

The boundary condition generation module 208 determines boundaryconditions used by the vector field generation module 210 in generatingthe smooth directional vector field 226. The boundary conditiongeneration module 208 receives, and generates boundary conditions 230from, the salient boundary segments 224 and the mesh 228. The boundarycondition generation module 208 determines direction vectorscorresponding to the vertices of the mesh 228 that are located on thesalient boundary segments 224. The direction vector corresponding to avertex of the mesh 228 that is located on the salient boundary segments224 is a vector identifying the direction of the boundary tangentialline at that vertex (the direction of a line that is tangential to, andin the same direction as, the segment of the boundary that includes thevertex). The direction vectors corresponding to the vertices arerepresented in various manners, e.g., as two dimensional vectors [sin θ,cos θ].

Analogous to the discussion above, if the angle between a boundarytangential line at a vertex and a corresponding medial axis tangentialline is between 135 degrees and 225 degrees, the segment of the boundaryof the geometric shape is aligned, with reverse orientation, with thecorresponding segment of the medial axis. In such situations thedirection of the boundary tangential line is reversed, resulting in theboundary tangential line being aligned with the same orientation as thecorresponding medial axis tangential line resulting in the angle betweenthe reversed boundary tangential line and the corresponding medial axistangential line being within a threshold range (e.g., less than athreshold amount, such as 45 degrees).

The vector field generation module 210 receives, and generates thesmooth directional vector field 226 from, the boundary conditions 230and the mesh 228. The vector field generation module 210 generates thesmooth directional vector field 226 that is aligned with the salientboundary segments 224. The smooth directional vector field 226 beingsmooth refers to the direction vectors in the smooth directional vectorfield 226 being similar in direction (e.g., less than a threshold numberof degrees different, such as 5 degrees) as adjacent direction vectorsin the smooth directional vector field 226. In one or moreimplementations the smooth directional vector field 226 is generatedacross the entire mesh 228. Additionally or alternatively, the smoothdirectional vector field 226 is generated for only portion of the mesh228 (e.g., portions of the mesh 228 in the interior of the geometricshape 220, including portions of the mesh 228 on the boundary of thegeometric shape 220).

For each vertex on a salient boundary segment 224, the vector fieldgeneration module 210 uses as the direction vector for the vertex thetangent at the segment of the boundary that includes the vertex (in thesame direction as the segment of the boundary or with reverseorientation if the angle between the tangent at the segment and acorresponding medial axis tangential line is between 135 degrees and 225degrees as discussed above). The vector field generation module 210 addsthese direction vectors (e.g., each represented as a two dimensionalvector [sin θ, cos θ]) to the smooth directional vector field 226.

For each vertex in the mesh 228 that is not on a salient boundarysegment 224, the vector field generation module 210 aligns the directionvectors for the vertices based on the boundary conditions. In one ormore implementations, the 210 aligns the direction vectors for thesevertices to be within a range defined by the boundary conditions,restricting each directional vector in the smooth directional vectorfield 226 to being within the range defined by the boundary conditions.The angle of each direction vector for a vertex that is on the salientboundary segment 224 is determined relative to a reference vector (e.g.,the x-axis or the y-axis). The range defined by the boundary conditionsis between (inclusive) a direction vector having the smallest anglerelative to the reference vector and a direction vector having thelargest angle relative to the reference vector.

For each vertex in the mesh 228 that is not on a salient boundarysegment 224, the vector field generation module 210 determines adirection vector (e.g., represented as a two dimensional vector [sin θ,cos θ]) by solving for the two variables indicating direction (e.g.,[sin θ, cos θ]). In one or more implementations, the vector fieldgeneration module 210 solves for the two variables using a biharmonicsolve with the boundary conditions 230 as boundary conditions.

As an example, the vector field generation module 210 is based on thebi-Laplacian equation and minimizing the Laplacian energy subject to theboundary conditions 230, which are a set of linear constraints.Minimizing the Laplacian energy solves for two weights (the two elementsof the two dimensional direction vector) by determining the two weightsfor each vertex as:

min w i ∑ i = 1 n 1 2 ⁢ ∫ ( Δ ⁢ w i ) 2 ⁢ d ⁢ A

where n refers to the number of dimensions in the vector field (2 inthis example), w_(i) refers to the variable representing the weights(the elements of the two dimensional direction vectors) representing thei^(th) unit vector over all mesh vertices in the domain (

).

The vector field generation module 210 determines, for each triangle inmesh 228, the direction vector for each vertex of the triangle. For eachtriangle, the vector field generation module 210 proceeds based onwhether the direction vectors at each vertex of the triangle are inapproximately the same direction (e.g., within a threshold amount ofbeing in the same direction, such as within 5 degrees of one another).If the direction vectors at each vertex of the triangle are inapproximately the same direction, then no further processing of thetriangle need be performed. However, if the direction vectors at eachvertex of the triangle are not in approximately the same direction, thevector field generation module 210 sub-divides the triangle into two ormore triangles. This sub-division of a triangle is performed using anyof a variety of public or proprietary techniques. The triangle in themesh 228 is replaced with the two or more triangles resulting from thesub-dividing, and for each triangle generated from the sub-dividing thevector field generation module 210 determines the direction vector foreach vertex of the triangle. This process of sub-dividing triangles isrepeated until each triangle in the mesh 228 has its vertices inapproximately the same direction.

Triangles in the mesh 228 typically share vertices with at least oneother triangle (although exceptions are possible, such as at the cornersof the mesh 228). For a given vertex, the vector field generation module210 generates a direction vector based on the direction vectors for thevertex as generated by the vector field generation module 210 for eachof the triangles that share the vertex. The vector field generationmodule 210 determines the direction vector for the shared vertex in anyof a variety of different manners. In one or more implementations, thevector field generation module 210 selects one of the direction vectorsgenerated for one of the triangles that share the vertex (e.g., selectsrandomly, selects the direction vector closest to the average of thedirection vectors generated for the triangles that share the vertex,etc.). Additionally or alternatively, the vector field generation module210 combines (e.g., averages) the direction vectors generated for thetriangles that share the vertex and uses that combine value as thedirection vector for the vertex.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example 604 of a smooth directional vector fieldgenerated from a triangle mesh (e.g., as illustrated at example 602).The directional vector field is illustrated as multiple arrows eachassociated with a vertex of a triangle in the triangle mesh. Asillustrated, the smooth directional vector field is aligned with thesalient boundary segments of the geometric shape. It is to be noted that(e.g., due to the different sizes of the triangles in the triangle mesh)the smooth directional vector field illustrated in example 604 is notuniform. The vector field not being uniform refers to there beingvarying distances between different ones of the direction vectors.

Returning to FIG. 2 , the uniform field embedding module 212 implementsfunctionality to use the smooth directional vector field 226 tocalculate the vector field over a uniform domain, the resultant vectorfield also being referred to as a uniform vector field 232. The uniformvector field 232 has consistent or regular distances between differentones of the direction vectors in the uniform vector field 232, incontrast to the non-uniform smooth directional vector field 226.Patterns are inherently uniform and regular, so generating the uniformvector field 232 allows the pattern in which the graphical cells areplaced to be readily mapped to directional vectors in the uniform vectorfield 232 as discussed in more detail below.

The uniform field embedding module 212 converts the smooth directionalvector field 226 to the uniform vector field 232 by superimposing aregular and uniform structure over the smooth directional vector field226. The uniform field embedding module 212 transfers the directionalvectors from the vertexes of the smooth directional vector field 226 tothe vertexes of the regular and uniform structure. The regular anduniform structure is made up of any of a variety of primitives, whichare geometric shapes, such as squares, hexagons, octagons, and so forth.In one or more implementations, the primitives in the structure areadjacent one another. Additionally or alternatively, primitives in thestructure are spaced out from one another (e.g., with one or more pixelsseparation between each primitive and the next closest primitive(s)). Inone or more implementations, the primitives in the structure are of thesame geometric shape as the graphical cells and the spacing betweenprimitives in the structure is the same as the spacing between graphicalcells in the pattern.

The uniform field embedding module 212 identifies a triangle in theuniform vector field 232 (e.g., a triangle index) corresponding to eachvertex of a primitive in the regular and uniform structure. The uniformfield embedding module 212 identifies the triangles in various manners,such as using an accelerated bounded volume hierarchy structure. Thetriangle that corresponds to a vertex of a primitive in the structure isa triangle that includes (e.g., on an edge, vertex, or within thetriangle) the vertex of the primitive. In situations in which multipletriangles correspond to a vertex of a primitive, various rules orcriteria are applied to determine which triangle corresponds to thevertex (e.g., the triangle that corresponds to the vertex is selectedrandomly or pseudorandomly).

The uniform field embedding module 212 determines a directional vectorfor each vertex of each primitive in the regular and uniform structure(or at least vertexes in the geometric shape 220). In one or moreimplementations, the uniform field embedding module 212 generates adirectional vector for the vertex of a primitive by combining thedirectional vectors of the triangle corresponding to the vertex of theprimitive. This combining is performed, for example, by computing thelocal Barycentric coordinates of the position of the vertex of theprimitive in the triangle and generating a directional vector for thevertex of the primitive by interpolating the directional vectors of thevertexes of the triangle that corresponds to the vertex of theprimitive. Additionally or alternatively, the directional vector for thevertex of the primitive is generated in other manners, such as averagingthe vertexes of the triangle that corresponds to the vertex of theprimitive, selecting one of the vertexes of the triangle thatcorresponds to the vertex of the primitive, and so forth.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example 702 of a uniform vector field generatedfrom a smooth directional vector field (e.g., as illustrated at example604). The regular and uniform structure is illustrated as multiplesquares with no spacing between squares, and the uniform vector field isillustrated as multiple arrows each associated with a vertex of aprimitive in the structure.

Returning to FIG. 2 , the graphical cell placement module 214 implementsfunctionality to generate a filled geometric shape 234 based on agraphical cell 236, a pattern 238, and the uniform vector field 232. Thegraphical cell placement module 214 places the graphical cell 236 ineach location specified by the pattern 238. For example, the pattern 238corresponds to the structure used to generate the uniform vector field232, and the graphical cell placement module 214 places the graphicalcell 236 in each primitive of the structure that is located inside thegeometric shape 220. The graphical cell placement module 214 determinesa rotational value corresponding to each primitive that is locatedinside the geometric shape 220 based on the directional vectors (fromthe uniform vector field 232) of the vertices of the primitive. In oneor more implementations, the graphical cell placement module 214determines the rotational value for a primitive by combining (e.g.,averaging) the directional vectors of the vertices of the primitive.

For each graphical cell 236 placed in a primitive, the graphical cellplacement module 214 determines an orientation for the graphical cell236 so that the graphical cell 236 is oriented in the same direction asthe rotational value corresponding to the primitive. For example, if therotational value is 25 degrees from the x-axis for a given primitive,the graphical cell placement module 214 rotates the graphical cell 236in that primitive 25 degrees from the x-axis. Accordingly, theorientations for the graphical cell 236 in different primitives varybased on the rotational value corresponding to the primitive, which iscomputed above by embedding uniform structure of primitives.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example 802 of rotating a graphical cell. Agraphical cell is illustrated at 804 as a teardrop shape and isinitially aligned with the x-axis 806. Assuming that the rotationalvalue corresponding to a primitive in which the graphical cell is placedis 25 degrees, the graphical cell is rotated 25 degrees as illustratedat 808.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example 902 of generating a filled geometricshape. The example 902 is a larger view of the example illustrated inFIG. 1 and includes a geometric shape 904 is that of a fish and thegeometric shape 904 is filled, in accordance with a grid fill pattern,with replications of a graphical cell 906 that is a teardrop shape,resulting in filled geometric shape 908. The orientation of eachgraphical cell in the filled geometric shape 908 is aligned with thecontours of the geometric shape (e.g., the contour of the fish's body),resulting in different ones of the graphical cells having differentorientations based on the location of the graphical cell in thegeometric shape

FIG. 10 illustrates an example user interface 1000 for receiving userinput associated with the techniques discussed herein. The application104 includes a display module 1002 to display the user interface 1000and an input module 1004 to receive user inputs including variouscriteria for defining a pattern for graphical cells. The user interface1000 displays various fields, including a name field 1006 allowing theuser to assign a name to a new pattern being created, input a name toretrieve a previously created pattern, and so forth. A tile type field1008 allows the user to select one of multiple different tile patternsfor the pattern. In the illustrated example, the tile type field 1008includes a drop down menu allowing the user to select a grid pattern(which is the currently selected tile pattern in the illustratedexample), a brick by row pattern (rectangular tiles staggered by row), abrick by column pattern (rectangular tiles staggered by column), a hexby column pattern (hexagon tiles having a width longer than theirheight), and a hex by row pattern (hexagon tiles having a height longerthan their width). Additionally or alternatively, various other tilepatterns are selectable by the user.

A width field 1010 allows the user to input a width of cells in thepattern, a height field 1012 allows the user to input a height of cellsin the pattern, a horizontal spacing (H spacing) field 1014 allows theuser to input an amount of spacing horizontally between cells in thepattern, and a vertical spacing (V spacing) field 1016 allows the userto input an amount of spacing vertically between cells in the pattern. Acancel button 1018 allows the user to cancel creation of a new pattern,and an ok button 1020 allows the user to save a newly defined (ormodified) pattern.

Returning to FIG. 2 , the techniques discussed herein are discussed withreference to graphical cells being placed in primitives as an example,but additionally or alternatively the techniques discussed herein areapplied analogously to filling the geometric shape 220 with othercontent (e.g., calligrams or microcalligraphy) or assigning values topixels in the geometric shape 220 (e.g., color flow). In suchsituations, the content or data placed in (or used to fill) a primitiveoftentimes changes for different primitives in contrast to placing thesame graphical cell 236 (although with different rotations) in eachprimitive. As an example, text (e.g., a poem, story, song lyrics, etc.)is placed in the primitives of a shape with the characters (e.g., words)in each primitive rotated analogous to the rotation of a graphical cellas discussed herein. By way of another example, the rotational valuesare mapped to color values (e.g., ranging between a beginning color andan ending color) and the color of pixels in a particular primitive areset to the color value mapped to the rotational value corresponding tothat primitive.

Example Procedures

The following discussion describes techniques that are implementedutilizing the previously described systems and devices. Aspects of theprocedures are implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or acombination thereof. The procedures are shown as a set of blocks thatspecify operations performed by one or more devices and are notnecessarily limited to the orders shown for performing the operations bythe respective blocks. Furthermore, although various operationsperformed by one or more devices are recited, the techniques discussedherein additionally or alternatively include additional operations. Inportions of the following discussion, reference is made to FIGS. 1-10 .

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram 1100 depicting a procedure in an exampleimplementation of automatically filling a geometric shape with graphicalcells aligned with the geometric shape. In this example, a geometricshape in digital content is identified (block 1102). The geometric shapetakes any of a variety of forms, such as any shape generated usingvector graphics, and is oftentimes a closed shape. The geometric shapeis identified in any of a variety of manners, such as drawn by a user,selected by the user or another system, and so forth.

A graphical cell with which to fill the geometric shape in accordancewith a pattern is received (block 1104). The graphical cell is a set ofone or more pixel values (e.g., a bitmap or single color) that is to bereplicated at various horizontal or vertical intervals in accordancewith the pattern. In one or more implementations, the graphical cell isidentified or selected by the user.

A medial axis of the geometric shape is generated (block 1106). Themedial axis of the geometric shape refers to a set of points in thegeometric shape that have more than one closest point on a boundary ofthe geometric shape.

A location of the geometric shape where the graphical cell is to beplaced in accordance with the pattern is selected (block 1108).Locations of the geometric shape are selected in accordance with any ofa variety of rules or criteria, such as top to bottom and left to right,randomly or pseudorandomly, and so forth.

An orientation for the graphical cell at the selected location isdetermined (block 1110). The orientation for the graphical cell at theselected location aligns the graphical cell with the medial axis.

The graphical cell is displayed at the location with the determinedorientation (block 1112). As there are multiple locations in thegeometric shape, at each of the multiple locations the graphical cell isreplicated but has the determined orientation for that location.

The procedure proceeds based on whether there are additional locationsin the geometric shape to select (block 1114). If all locations in thegeometric shape have been selected and a graphical cell displayed at thelocation, then the procedure ends (block 1116). However, if at least onelocation in the geometric shape has not yet been selected, the procedurereturns to block 1108 to select a location in the geometric shape.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram 1200 depicting a procedure in an exampleimplementation of automatically filling a geometric shape with graphicalcells aligned with the geometric shape. In this example, a geometricshape in digital content is identified (block 1202). The geometric shapetakes any of a variety of forms, such as any shape generated usingvector graphics, and is oftentimes a closed shape. The geometric shapeis identified in any of a variety of manners, such as drawn by a user,selected by the user or another system, and so forth.

A graphical cell with which to fill the geometric shape in accordancewith a pattern is received (block 1204). The graphical cell is a set ofone or more pixel values (e.g., a bitmap or single color) that is to bereplicated at various horizontal or vertical intervals in accordancewith the pattern. In one or more implementations, the graphical cell isidentified or selected by the user.

A medial axis of the geometric shape is generated (block 1206). Themedial axis of the geometric shape refers to a set of points in thegeometric shape that have more than one closest point on a boundary ofthe geometric shape.

Salient boundary segments of the geometric shape are determined (block1208). The salient boundary segments for the geometric shape are thesegments or portions of the boundary of the geometric shape that arealigned with the medial axis.

A location of the geometric shape where the graphical cell is to beplaced in accordance with the pattern is selected (block 1210).Locations of the geometric shape are selected in accordance with any ofa variety of rules or criteria, such as top to bottom and left to right,randomly or pseudorandomly, and so forth.

An orientation for the graphical cell at the selected location isdetermined (block 1212). The orientation for the graphical cell at theselected location aligns the graphical cell with the salient boundarysegments.

The graphical cell is displayed at the location with the determinedorientation (block 1214). As there are multiple locations in thegeometric shape, at each of the multiple locations the graphical cell isreplicated but has the determined orientation for that location.

The procedure proceeds based on whether there are additional locationsin the geometric shape to select (block 1216). If all locations in thegeometric shape have been selected and a graphical cell displayed at thelocation, then the procedure ends (block 1218). However, if at least onelocation in the geometric shape has not yet been selected, the procedurereturns to block 1210 to select a location in the geometric shape.

Example System and Device

FIG. 13 illustrates an example system generally at 1300 that includes anexample computing device 1302 that is representative of one or morecomputing systems and/or devices that implement the various techniquesdescribed herein. This is illustrated through inclusion of theapplication 104 with the fill pattern alignment system 106. Thecomputing device 1302 is, for example, a server of a service provider, adevice associated with a client (e.g., a client device), an on-chipsystem, and/or any other suitable computing device or computing system.

The example computing device 1302 as illustrated includes a processingsystem 1304, one or more computer-readable media 1306, and one or moreI/O interface 1308 that are communicatively coupled, one to another.Although not shown, in one or more implementations the computing device1302 further includes a system bus or other data and command transfersystem that couples the various components, one to another. A system busincludes any one or combination of different bus structures, such as amemory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, a universal serialbus, and/or a processor or local bus that utilizes any of a variety ofbus architectures. A variety of other examples are also contemplated,such as control and data lines.

The processing system 1304 is representative of functionality to performone or more operations using hardware. Accordingly, the processingsystem 1304 is illustrated as including hardware element 1310 that areconfigured, for example, as processors, functional blocks, and so forth.The processing system 1304 is optionally implemented in hardware as anapplication specific integrated circuit or other logic device formedusing one or more semiconductors. The hardware elements 1310 are notlimited by the materials from which they are formed, or the processingmechanisms employed therein. For example, in one or more implementationsprocessors are comprised of semiconductor(s) and/or transistors (e.g.,electronic integrated circuits (ICs)). In such a context,processor-executable instructions include electronically-executableinstructions.

The computer-readable storage media 1306 is illustrated as includingmemory/storage 1312. The memory/storage 1312 represents memory/storagecapacity associated with one or more computer-readable media. Thememory/storage component 1312 represents memory/storage capacityassociated with one or more computer-readable media. The memory/storagecomponent 1312 includes one or both of volatile media (such as randomaccess memory (RAM)) and nonvolatile media (such as read only memory(ROM), Flash memory, optical disks, magnetic disks, and so forth). Thememory/storage component 1312 includes one or both of fixed media (e.g.,RAM, ROM, a fixed hard drive, and so on) and removable media (e.g.,Flash memory, a removable hard drive, an optical disc, and so forth).The computer-readable media 1306 is optionally configured in a varietyof other ways as further described below.

Input/output interface(s) 1308 are representative of functionality toallow a user to enter commands and information to computing device 1302,and also allow information to be presented to the user and/or othercomponents or devices using various input/output devices. Examples ofinput devices include a keyboard, a cursor control device (e.g., amouse), a microphone, a scanner, touch functionality (e.g., capacitiveor other sensors that are configured to detect physical touch), a camera(e.g., which employs visible or non-visible wavelengths such as infraredfrequencies to recognize movement as gestures that do not involvetouch), and so forth. Examples of output devices include a displaydevice (e.g., a monitor or projector), speakers, a printer, a networkcard, tactile-response device, and so forth. Thus, the computing device1302 is configured in a variety of ways as further described below tosupport user interaction.

Various techniques are described herein in the general context ofsoftware, hardware elements, or program modules. Generally, such modulesinclude routines, programs, objects, elements, components, datastructures, and so forth that perform particular tasks or implementparticular abstract data types. The terms “module,” “functionality,” and“component” as used herein generally represent software, firmware,hardware, or a combination thereof. The features of the techniquesdescribed herein are platform-independent, meaning that the techniquesare implementable on a variety of commercial computing platforms havinga variety of processors.

An implementation of the described modules and techniques is optionallystored on or transmitted across some form of computer-readable media.The computer-readable media includes any of a variety of media that isaccessible by the computing device 1302. By way of example, and notlimitation, computer-readable media includes “computer-readable storagemedia” and “computer-readable signal media.”

“Computer-readable storage media” refers to media and/or devices thatenable persistent and/or non-transitory storage of information thereonin contrast to mere signal transmission, carrier waves, or signals perse. Computer-readable storage media is non-signal bearing media. Thecomputer-readable storage media includes hardware such as volatile andnon-volatile, removable and non-removable media and/or storage devicesimplemented in a method or technology suitable for storage ofinformation such as computer readable instructions, data structures,program modules, logic elements/circuits, or other data. Examples ofcomputer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, RAM,ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digitalversatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, hard disks, magneticcassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices, or other storage device, tangible media, or article ofmanufacture suitable to store the desired information and which isaccessed by a computer.

“Computer-readable signal media” refers to a signal-bearing medium thatis configured to transmit instructions to the hardware of the computingdevice 1302, such as via a network. Signal media typically embodiescomputer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, orother data in a modulated data signal, such as carrier waves, datasignals, or other transport mechanism. Signal media also include anyinformation delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example,and not limitation, communication media include wired media such as awired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such asacoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media.

As previously described, hardware elements 1310 and computer-readablemedia 1306 are representative of modules, programmable device logicand/or fixed device logic implemented in a hardware form that areemployed in some implementations to implement at least some aspects ofthe techniques described herein, such as to perform one or moreinstructions. Hardware includes, for example, components of anintegrated circuit or on-chip system, an application-specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a complexprogrammable logic device (CPLD), and other implementations in siliconor other hardware. In this context, hardware operates as a processingdevice that performs program tasks defined by instructions and/or logicembodied by the hardware as well as a hardware utilized to storeinstructions for execution, e.g., the computer-readable storage mediadescribed previously.

Combinations of the foregoing are optionally employed to implementvarious techniques described herein. Accordingly, in one or moreimplementations software, hardware, or executable modules areimplemented as one or more instructions and/or logic embodied on someform of computer-readable storage media and/or by one or more hardwareelements 1310. The computing device 1302 is configured to implementparticular instructions and/or functions corresponding to the softwareand/or hardware modules. Accordingly, implementation of a module that isexecutable by the computing device 1302 as software is achievable atleast partially in hardware, e.g., through use of computer-readablestorage media and/or hardware elements 1310 of the processing system1304. The instructions and/or functions executable/operable by one ormore articles of manufacture (for example, one or more computing devices1302 and/or processing systems 1304) to implement techniques, modules,and examples described herein.

The techniques described herein are supported by various configurationsof the computing device 1302 and are not limited to the specificexamples of the techniques described herein. Additionally oralternatively, this functionality is implemented all or in part throughuse of a distributed system, such as over a “cloud” 1314 via a platform1316 as described below.

The cloud 1314 includes and/or is representative of a platform 1316 forresources 1318. The platform 1316 abstracts underlying functionality ofhardware (e.g., servers) and software resources of the cloud 1314. Theresources 1318 include applications and/or data utilizable whilecomputer processing is executed on servers that are remote from thecomputing device 1302. Resources 1318 optionally include servicesprovided over the Internet and/or through a subscriber network, such asa cellular or Wi-Fi network.

The platform 1316 abstract resources and functions to connect thecomputing device 1302 with other computing devices. The platform 1316also optionally serves to abstract scaling of resources to provide acorresponding level of scale to encountered demand for the resources1318 that are implemented via the platform 1316. Accordingly, in aninterconnected device embodiment, implementation of functionalitydescribed herein is distributed throughout the system 1300. For example,the functionality is implemented in part on the computing device 1302 aswell as via the platform 1316 that abstracts the functionality of thecloud 1314.

CONCLUSION

Although the invention has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarilylimited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specificfeatures and acts are disclosed as example forms of implementing theclaimed invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a content creation digital medium environment,a method comprising: identifying a geometric shape in digital content;receiving a graphical cell with which to fill the geometric shape inaccordance with a pattern; determining a medial axis of the geometricshape, the medial axis including a set of points in the geometric shapethat have more than one closest point on a boundary of the geometricshape; for each of multiple locations of the geometric shape where thegraphical cell is to be placed in accordance with the pattern:determining, based at least in part on the medial axis, an orientationfor the graphical cell at the location that aligns the graphical cellwith the medial axis; and displaying, at the location, the graphicalcell with the determined orientation.
 2. The method of claim 1, thedetermining the orientation for the graphical cell including identifyingsalient boundary segments on the boundary of the geometric shape, eachsalient boundary segment being aligned with the medial axis.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, the identifying salient boundary segments includingidentifying, as the salient boundary segments, each boundary segment onthe boundary of the geometric shape for which an angle between aboundary tangential line for the boundary segment and a medial axistangential line for a corresponding tangential line for the medial axisis less than a threshold amount.
 4. The method of claim 2, thedetermining the orientation for the graphical cell including generatinga smooth directional vector field in an interior of the geometric shape.5. The method of claim 4, further comprising generating a triangularmesh in the geometric shape and including, in the smooth directionalvector field, directional vectors at each triangle vertex in thetriangular mesh.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprisingidentifying a range of directional vectors defined by the directionalvectors of triangles on the salient boundary segments, and restrictingeach directional vector in the smooth directional vector field to beingwithin the range of directional vectors.
 7. The method of claim 5, thesmooth directional vector field comprising a non-uniform vector field,the method further comprising converting the smooth directional vectorfield into a uniform vector field corresponding to the pattern.
 8. Themethod of claim 7, the determining the orientation for the graphicalcell comprising setting the orientation for the graphical cell to be anorientation of the directional vector in the uniform vector fieldcorresponding to the location.
 9. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising receiving user input specifying the geometric shape, thepattern, and the graphical cell
 10. In a content creation digital mediumenvironment, a computing device comprising: a processor; andcomputer-readable storage media having stored thereon multipleinstructions of an application that, responsive to execution by theprocessor, cause the processor to perform operations including:identifying a geometric shape in digital content; receiving a graphicalcell with which to fill the geometric shape in accordance with apattern; determining a medial axis of the geometric shape, the medialaxis including a set of points in the geometric shape that have morethan one closest point on a boundary of the geometric shape; determiningsalient boundary segments of the geometric shape that are aligned withthe medial axis; for each of multiple locations of the geometric shapewhere the graphical cell is to be placed in accordance with the pattern:determining an orientation for the graphical cell at the location thataligns the graphical cell with the salient boundary segments of thegeometric shape; and displaying, at the location, the graphical cellwith the determined orientation.
 11. The computing device of claim 10,the identifying salient boundary segments including identifying, as thesalient boundary segments, each boundary segment on the boundary of thegeometric shape for which an angle between a boundary tangential linefor the boundary segment and a medial axis tangential line for acorresponding tangential line for the medial axis is less than athreshold amount
 12. The computing device of claim 10, the determiningthe orientation for the graphical cell including generating a smoothdirectional vector field in an interior of the geometric shape
 13. Thecomputing device of claim 12, further comprising generating a triangularmesh in the geometric shape and including, in the smooth directionalvector field, directional vectors at each triangle vertex in thetriangular mesh.
 14. The computing device of claim 13, furthercomprising identifying a range of directional vectors defined by thedirectional vectors of triangles on the salient boundary segments, andrestricting each directional vector in the smooth directional vectorfield to being within the range of directional vectors
 15. The computingdevice of claim 13, the smooth directional vector field comprising anon-uniform vector field, the operations further comprising convertingthe smooth directional vector field into a uniform vector fieldcorresponding to the pattern
 16. The computing device of claim 15, thedetermining the orientation for the graphical cell comprising settingthe orientation for the graphical cell to be an orientation of thedirectional vector in the uniform vector field corresponding to thelocation
 17. The computing device of claim 10, further comprisingreceiving user input specifying the geometric shape, the pattern, andthe graphical cell
 18. A system comprising: a user input module,implemented at least in part in hardware, to receive an indication of ageometric shape in digital content, a pattern, and a graphical cell withwhich to fill the geometric shape in accordance with the pattern; amedial axis generation module, implemented at least in part in hardware,to determine a medial axis of the geometric shape, the medial axisincluding a set of points in the geometric shape that have more than oneclosest point on a boundary of the geometric shape; means fordetermining, for each of multiple locations of the geometric shape wherethe graphical cell is to be placed based on the pattern, an orientationfor the graphical cell that aligns the graphical cell with the medialaxis; and a display module, implemented at least in part in hardware, todisplay the graphical cell with the determined orientation.
 19. Thesystem of claim 18, the means for determining including means forgenerating a smooth directional vector field in an interior of thegeometric shape and converting the smooth directional vector field to auniform vector field.
 20. The system of claim 19, the means fordetermining including means for setting the orientation for thegraphical cell at one of the multiple locations to be an orientation ofa directional vector in the uniform vector field corresponding to theone of the multiple locations.